The Bait: Search for Anyone, See Everything?
You’ve seen the ads:
“Find out ANYTHING about ANYONE! Instantly view criminal records, address history, and more with just a click!”
Sites like BeenVerified promise to dig up anyone’s secrets, from long-lost friends to suspected criminals, for a low monthly fee. Sounds powerful, right?
But for millions—especially in the UK—it’s all a scam built on misunderstanding.
The Trap: Misleading OSINT for the Uninitiated
Let’s break it down.
BeenVerified uses public data and basic OSINT (Open Source Intelligence)—scraping info that’s already out there (think social media, phone books, old addresses, or maybe property records). They package it in fancy reports, slap on the “CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK” label, and—boom!—sell it to unsuspecting users.
But Here’s the Catch:
- There’s NO magic criminal record database.
- In the UK, criminal records are strictly protected by law.
- What BeenVerified shows is not a real criminal check—just bits and pieces of old, unrelated public info!
UK Law: You Can’t Buy Criminal Records Online
Fact Check: UK Criminal Records Are Private
- The UK’s Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 makes it illegal to share spent criminal convictions in most cases.
- Full criminal records (from the Police National Computer) can only be accessed by:
- Law enforcement
- Government agencies with a legal reason
- Employers for certain vetting (via the official Disclosure and Barring Service—DBS)
- You cannot legally or realistically buy someone’s criminal history on a website like BeenVerified.
Why BeenVerified is a Scam (for the UK)
- They prey on fear and curiosity, especially among people who don’t understand OSINT.
- The “deep web” info they promise? It’s all stuff you could find with a few minutes of Googling… if it exists at all.
- UK users pay for nothing: BeenVerified cannot access UK police or court records. Their reports are full of guesswork, old addresses, and sometimes just plain errors.
- Countless reviews show UK users demanding refunds after realizing the truth.
“I paid for a criminal check on my new neighbor. BeenVerified gave me nothing but old addresses and social media links from years ago—no mention of their criminal history. What a scam!”
—Actual UK BeenVerified reviewer, Trustpilot
How To Protect Yourself: Know Your OSINT
- Never pay for background checks from shady websites. In the UK, there’s no legitimate way to get someone’s criminal record unless you’re their employer, and even then, you must go through DBS.
- Understand OSINT:
Open Source Intelligence is not “hacking” or magic access. It’s just smart searching, using publicly available info. - If you need a check, go official:
- For employment, use the government DBS service: https://www.gov.uk/request-copy-criminal-record
- For tenancy checks or new neighbors? Trust your instincts—and Google. That’s all anyone else can legally do.
Final Word: Don’t Get Scammed by Data Vultures
Sites like BeenVerified are wolves in digital sheep’s clothing—preying on the uninformed, selling empty promises, and cashing in on privacy fears.
Stay smart, stay safe, and don’t get got.
For more cyber-literacy tips and scam busting, follow our blog! If you’ve been stung by a background check scam, share your story in the comments below.
